Millbrook JV Football keeps rolling for 46-13 victory

By Evan Moesta, 10/22/15, 9:15PM EDT

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The good times keep on coming for the Millbrook JV Football team. For the Wildcats, it has been win after win with the exception of their 14-9 blemish against Wake Forest. The dominant performances for the 'Cats kept on coming on Thursday night as they breezed by Heritage, 46-13.

The Wildcats started the ballgame by forcing a three and out on a pair of stops from Griffin Jefferies, and Dacauri Stanley. The Huskies would punt away and the Millbrook return team let the ball fall at their own 35 yard line. That's where Kenny McCray and the offense would briefly take over. Following an incompletion, the 'Cats handed off to Chris Twitty, who glided right past the Heritage defense for the 65 yard score, just 2:03 into the game. Kevin Serratos' kick was good and Millbrook had the early 7-0 lead. Twitty led all rushers with 11 carries for 131 yards, and that touchdown.

If some is good, more is better. The stout Millbrook defense would force another Heritage punt thanks in part to Alex Santiago who came through with one of his team leading 6 tackles on the night, this punt would be downed at the Wildcat 23 yard line. McCray would open the drive with a 15 yard strike to Noah Watkins, and a 15 yard run on a quarterback keeper. That moved the ball into Husky territory. Following a penalty, the 'Cats would set up on 2nd Down at the 29 yard line. McCray would look left on the ensuing play and serve up a jump ball to the far sideline, that's where Tyson Jackson would sky up and come away with the ball in double coverage. On the way down from making the catch, Jackson fell into the endzone for the score. Holder, Isaiah Willett would bobble the snap on the point after attempt but he would still convert it into points as he scooped the ball up, rolled right, and found Jackson in the endzone for the two point conversion to put Millbrook up 15-0.

That score would end the 1st Quarter of play and Heritage would find new life to start the second stanza. They converted on a big 4th down catch from Joshua Coleman. The Husky running back dove, and made the grab parallel to the field to keep the drive alive. Two plays later, Coach Fournier would call Coleman's number again, this time on the ground, and it would go for a 33 yard run, all the way to the Wildcat 1 yard line. Josiah Brown would punch it in for the Huskies and cut the lead to 15-7 with just over eight minutes to play in the half.

Each team would exchange a turnover on downs, the latter of the two set Millbrook up at their own 39 yard line. Twitty ripped off a first down run, then McCray dumped a pass to Watkins who would turn it into a 32 yard play to set up first and goal at the 8 yard line. That grab was one of three for Watkins who had 51 yards receiving on the night. Things took an interesting turn once the 'Cats got 1st and Goal. Chris Twitty found his way into the endzone for what appeared to be his 2nd touchdown of the night but it would be called back on a holding call. That moved things back to the 20 yard line where McCray would proceed to flip a pass to the back of the endzone for Tyler Snead who made an incredible leaping catch for the touchdown. Or so everybody thought, a late flag on the Wildcats would call off the score and move things back even further to the 30 yard line. Twitty would rush his way back to the 20 to set up a 3rd Down for Millbrook. That's when McCray would find Snead on a slant route for the score. The third time ended up being the charm as there were no flags on the play, and that would give Millbrook a 22-7 lead.

Heritage would end up fumbling on the next drive to give the Wildcats one final shot at the endzone before the half was over but Millbrook failed to find pay dirt from 10 yards out. On 4th and Goal, Watkins would make a 9 yard grab but he was pulled down at the one yard line with six seconds remaining.

Tyler Snead kicked off the second half by returning the kick off 35 yards and into Heritage territory. Another flag would call back a 31 yard reverse option run from Snead but it would be no problem as Twitty broke through the defense for a 17 yard run to set up 1st and Goal from the 10. Coach Bunting rolled with reverse option call again and Snead took it up to the 2 yard line. Twitty got another yard and then McCray kept it himself for the 1 yard touchdown run to make it 29-7.

The Wildcats have needed very little help this season in regards to putting points up on the board but they don't mind a few extra points here and there. That's what Heritage would give them on their following drive. Denver Montrose, who recovered a fumble in the first half, pounded the Husky QB in the backfield to set up 4th Down and 16. Heritage sent the punt team on, and the punt snap rolled past the Huskies punter who would proceed to kick the rolling ball like a soccer ball, out of the endzone behind him for the safety. That would make it 31-7 Millbrook halfway through the 3rd Quarter.

Snead would take the free kick from the Huskies back into their territory at the 47, and that's exactly where the drive would end. On the first play, Kenny McCray hit an open Tyson Jackson down field for the sophomore's second touchdown grab of the night to make it 38-7.

The Huskies would respond immediately with a 67 yard kick return to get the ball inside the Millbrook 20 yard line. Heritage would then find Christian Starensia in the endzone for the 8 yard score three plays later to reduce the Wildcat lead to 38-13. Down by three possessions, Heritage would try to pull off an onside kick with under four minutes to play in the third. The onside attempt failed to go 10 yards and it set the 'Cats up with prime field position at the opponents' 46 yard line.

Backup running back, Junior Corona would enter and bust off a 7 yard run, then Kenny McCray would close his passing night with a 39 yard bomb to Tyler Snead for the score. On the extra point, Tyson Jackson would once again find himself involved in the scoring as he would catch his second two point conversion of the game on an identical botched snap from Isaiah Willett to make it 46-13. Jackson who had four catches that resulted in points, credits his coaches for calling all of the right shots on Thursday night.

"The wheel route was wide open on the second TD... just a great call by the coaches and another great pass from Kenny... on the extra points, Isaiah just called fire when there was too much pressure, he rolled out and luckily I was right there. That's something that we always work on in practice just in case it happens and we executed twice tonight."

It would be a very sloppy affair from there as Millbrook would recover a Heritage fumble at the Husky 40 yard line on the following drive. McCray would fumble the handoff on the first play of that drive to give the ball back. That gave the Huskies the ball back at the 40 and they kept the turnover exchange going as Branden Pierce picked off a pass three plays into the drive. If three turnovers in three minutes wasn't enough for you, then good news. The Wildcats would follow the Pierce interception by marching down field to the Heritage 11 yard line. That's when McCray would cough up the football to the Huskies via another fumble. Despite the sloppy play late, McCray went 10/15 passing for 196 yards and 4 touchdowns along with the 1 yard touchdown run. Coach Bunting had nothing but positive things to say about his sophomore quarterback following the 46-13 victory.

"We came out very strong tonight. Heritage is a very well coached team and Kenny stepped up really big. You look at our numbers and we had three receivers (Watkins, Snead, Jackson) all go for over 50 yards tonight. None of that could have been possible without him (McCray) putting the ball in great places for them to make big plays. Anytime your QB can pass for almost 200 yards and then have a guy in the backfield (Twitty) that rushes for over 130 yards, you're going to be very successful at the Junior Varsity level... I'm very proud of how our guys played tonight and with two games to go, we are still playing some amazing ball out there."

There are indeed two more games on the schedule for the 7-1 (4-1) Wildcats. Next up is a trip to Leesville Road to battle the 1-5 Pride. Statistically, few Junior Varsity teams in the area can match Millbrook's current offensive output of 34.5 points per game. As impressive as that is, the fun number to watch this season is on the other side of the ball where the 'Cats are only allowing 7.25 points per contest. Kickoff from Marshall L. Hamilton Stadium is slated for 6:30. As always, you can stay up to date with all things Millbrook Football by following them on Twitter at @Millbrook_SBC.